Bergfürst

Founded in 2011, Bergfürst is a German real estate crowdfunding platform based in Berlin that connects investors with property projects primarily in Germany. Bergfürst originates loans, providing real estate companies with access to mezzanine capital for project development or the refinancing of existing properties. The platform is regulated as an investment broker by Germany’s regulatory authority, the Deutsche Industrie- und Handelskammer. Bergfürst recently launched a partnership with C.HAFNER, one of Europe’s leading providers of precious metal products and services, allowing investors to invest in gold with as little as €10 per month.

Registration on the platform is open to both individuals and companies. Individuals must meet a minimum age requirement of 18 years.^[1] While Bergfürst does not explicitly state whether its platform is exclusively for investors in German-speaking countries, it is noteworthy that the website is solely accessible in the German language. Since its launch, Bergfürst has raised more than €192.28 million. However, over the past 12 months, it has not raised any capital.^[2] The platform boasts a community of 119,000 investors.^[3]

• Bergfürst facilitates investments in real estate projects, primarily across Germany, offering interest rates between 6.2% and 10%.
• The platform facilitates loans for real estate companies, providing mezzanine capital for project development and property refinancing.
• Real estate investments begin at €10, with loan terms spanning 3 months to 2 years.
• Bergfürst has recently launched gold investments in collaboration with C.HAFNER, starting at €10 per month.
• Investments incur no subscription fees, but there is a €10 charge for secondary market transactions and a 10% management fee on escrow deposits.

Bergfürst provides real estate companies with standardized access to mezzanine capital, either for new project developments or to refinance existing properties. The platform has recently expanded into alternative assets, offering gold investments in partnership with C.HAFNER.

Bergfürst offers two main investment options:

• Property Projects: Investors can fund real estate loans, mainly in Germany, where companies need mezzanine capital to fill the financing gap left by banks, which generally cover up to 60–70% of project costs. Investments start at €10.
• Gold: A monthly gold savings plan is available, also starting from €10.^[4]

Real estate investment durations range from 3 months to 2 years, with project targets varying from €2 million to €5 million. Bergfürst offers subordinated secured bank loans typically ranked second in priority after first-tier financing. These junior loans are backed by material assets to minimize the risk of total loss.^[5]

Interests are paid annually or at the end of the term, depending on the project, with the principal returned at loan maturity.^[6] Bergfürst provides a secondary market for investors to sell their investments before term completion. The platform does not offer an auto-invest feature for queuing new investments. However, Bergfürst does provide a mobile app available on the Apple Store and Google Play, making it easy to browse for new investment opportunities.

Bergfürst deducts tax on interest payments during the offer phase. In the secondary market, investors may encounter additional capital gains taxes, which can be claimed accordingly on tax returns.^[7]

Among the active campaigns, Bergfürst offers interest rates ranging from 6.2% to 10%.^[8] Since its launch, the platform has paid out a total of €133 million. It’s important to note that the platform has not disclosed advanced statistics such as overdue loan rates or default rates. However, it has reported negative interest rates on some projects, which could signal potential delays or even defaults.

For investors, subscriptions to new investments are free. However, there are €10 fees for purchases and sales on the secondary market. Bergfürst also applies a 10% management fee on escrow account deposits, calculated based on the original investment amount. Additionally, there is a €30 charge if investors contact the platform via email or telephone to process undelivered payments.^[9] However, the platform has not disclosed the fees applied to borrowers. Bergfürst generates revenue via service fees and brokerage fees collected from loan originations and various service fees.

Dr. Guido Sandler is the founder of Bergfürst and currently serves as the platform’s CEO. Before starting Bergfürst, he held leadership roles at Berlinereffektenbank AG and E*Trade Bank AG. Alongside him is Dennis Bemmann, who initially served as the CTO before transitioning to the supervisory board after playing a crucial role in establishing the platform. He also founded the German Young Researchers Network in 2000 and later established studiVZ, Germany’s leading website with 17 million active members, before transitioning to supporting young technology companies as an investor from 2007 onwards.

Dr. Guido Sandler is the largest shareholder of Bergfürst AG. The second-largest shareholder is Commerz Real AG, a subsidiary of Commerzbank, with approximately a 24.9% stake in the company.^[10] Other notable investors in Bergfürst include Axel Springer, Digital Ventures, and Berliner Volksbank Ventures.^[11]

The platform raised €7.8 million in September 2013, via investment from Berliner Volksbank Ventures.^[12]

Recently, Bergfürst has experienced a rise in debt, with liabilities growing from €74,024 in FY22 to over €184,746 in FY23, reflecting an increase of approximately 149%. Deferred income has also seen a decline, falling from €31,045 in FY22 to €21,282 in FY23, a drop of around 31%. Cash reserves have been significantly reduced, decreasing from €663,558 in FY22 to €216,138 in FY23, a decline of approximately 67%. Additionally, receivables have seen a sharp decrease, falling from €3.98 million in FY22 to just €405,085 in FY23, a drop of roughly 90%.^[13]

One of Bergfürst’s projects, involving ELA 105 GmbH, filed for insolvency on July 26, 2023, after failing to complete construction, leaving it uninhabitable and at risk of foreclosure. Despite Bergfürst’s earlier encouragement for investors to extend terms and provide additional funds to ensure completion, this has not occurred. As a result, investors are likely to face total losses, and the value of any guarantees remains uncertain. The insolvency is being managed by insolvency administrator Julia Kappel-Gnirs.^[14]

1. Bergfürst: “Wer kann in die Anlagemöglichkeiten auf BERGFÜRST investieren?”
2. P2PMarketData: “Bergfürst Statistics”
3. Bergfürst: “Kundinnen und Kunden”
4. Bergfürst: “Wie funktioniert diese neue Immobilien-Anlageklasse genau?”
5. Bergfürst: “Welche Vorteile bietet Ihnen das besicherte Bankdarlehen auf BERGFÜRST?”
6. Bergfürst: “Zinsfälligkeit”
7. Bergfürst: “Wie funktioniert die Besteuerung auf BERGFÜRST?”
8. Bergfürst: “Zinsen P.A”
9. Bergfürst: “Preis- und Leistungsverzeichnis”
10. Immobilien Manager: “Commerz Real steigt bei Bergfürst ein”
11. CB Insights: “Who are the investors of Bergfurst?”
12. Crunchbase: “BERGFÜRST - Financials”
13. Unternehmensregister: “BERGFÜRST - Rechnungslegung / Finanzberichte Unternehmensregister”
14. Die Bewertung: “Bergfürst Projektangebot: Projektgesellschaft ELA 105 GmbH – Insolvenz”

Founded in 2011, Bergfürst is a German real estate crowdfunding platform based in Berlin that connects investors with property projects primarily in Germany. Bergfürst originates loans, providing real estate companies with access to mezzanine capital for project development or the refinancing of existing properties. The platform is regulated as an investment broker by Germany’s regulatory authority, the Deutsche Industrie- und Handelskammer. Bergfürst recently launched a partnership with C.HAFNER, one of Europe’s leading providers of precious metal products and services, allowing investors to invest in gold with as little as €10 per month.

Registration on the platform is open to both individuals and companies. Individuals must meet a minimum age requirement of 18 years.^[1] While Bergfürst does not explicitly state whether its platform is exclusively for investors in German-speaking countries, it is noteworthy that the website is solely accessible in the German language. Since its launch, Bergfürst has raised more than €192.28 million. However, over the past 12 months, it has not raised any capital.^[2] The platform boasts a community of 119,000 investors.^[3]

• Bergfürst facilitates investments in real estate projects, primarily across Germany, offering interest rates between 6.2% and 10%.
• The platform facilitates loans for real estate companies, providing mezzanine capital for project development and property refinancing.
• Real estate investments begin at €10, with loan terms spanning 3 months to 2 years.
• Bergfürst has recently launched gold investments in collaboration with C.HAFNER, starting at €10 per month.
• Investments incur no subscription fees, but there is a €10 charge for secondary market transactions and a 10% management fee on escrow deposits.

Bergfürst provides real estate companies with standardized access to mezzanine capital, either for new project developments or to refinance existing properties. The platform has recently expanded into alternative assets, offering gold investments in partnership with C.HAFNER.

Bergfürst offers two main investment options:

• Property Projects: Investors can fund real estate loans, mainly in Germany, where companies need mezzanine capital to fill the financing gap left by banks, which generally cover up to 60–70% of project costs. Investments start at €10.
• Gold: A monthly gold savings plan is available, also starting from €10.^[4]

Real estate investment durations range from 3 months to 2 years, with project targets varying from €2 million to €5 million. Bergfürst offers subordinated secured bank loans typically ranked second in priority after first-tier financing. These junior loans are backed by material assets to minimize the risk of total loss.^[5]

Interests are paid annually or at the end of the term, depending on the project, with the principal returned at loan maturity.^[6] Bergfürst provides a secondary market for investors to sell their investments before term completion. The platform does not offer an auto-invest feature for queuing new investments. However, Bergfürst does provide a mobile app available on the Apple Store and Google Play, making it easy to browse for new investment opportunities.

Bergfürst deducts tax on interest payments during the offer phase. In the secondary market, investors may encounter additional capital gains taxes, which can be claimed accordingly on tax returns.^[7]

Among the active campaigns, Bergfürst offers interest rates ranging from 6.2% to 10%.^[8] Since its launch, the platform has paid out a total of €133 million. It’s important to note that the platform has not disclosed advanced statistics such as overdue loan rates or default rates. However, it has reported negative interest rates on some projects, which could signal potential delays or even defaults.

For investors, subscriptions to new investments are free. However, there are €10 fees for purchases and sales on the secondary market. Bergfürst also applies a 10% management fee on escrow account deposits, calculated based on the original investment amount. Additionally, there is a €30 charge if investors contact the platform via email or telephone to process undelivered payments.^[9] However, the platform has not disclosed the fees applied to borrowers. Bergfürst generates revenue via service fees and brokerage fees collected from loan originations and various service fees.

Dr. Guido Sandler is the founder of Bergfürst and currently serves as the platform’s CEO. Before starting Bergfürst, he held leadership roles at Berlinereffektenbank AG and E*Trade Bank AG. Alongside him is Dennis Bemmann, who initially served as the CTO before transitioning to the supervisory board after playing a crucial role in establishing the platform. He also founded the German Young Researchers Network in 2000 and later established studiVZ, Germany’s leading website with 17 million active members, before transitioning to supporting young technology companies as an investor from 2007 onwards.

Dr. Guido Sandler is the largest shareholder of Bergfürst AG. The second-largest shareholder is Commerz Real AG, a subsidiary of Commerzbank, with approximately a 24.9% stake in the company.^[10] Other notable investors in Bergfürst include Axel Springer, Digital Ventures, and Berliner Volksbank Ventures.^[11]

The platform raised €7.8 million in September 2013, via investment from Berliner Volksbank Ventures.^[12]

Recently, Bergfürst has experienced a rise in debt, with liabilities growing from €74,024 in FY22 to over €184,746 in FY23, reflecting an increase of approximately 149%. Deferred income has also seen a decline, falling from €31,045 in FY22 to €21,282 in FY23, a drop of around 31%. Cash reserves have been significantly reduced, decreasing from €663,558 in FY22 to €216,138 in FY23, a decline of approximately 67%. Additionally, receivables have seen a sharp decrease, falling from €3.98 million in FY22 to just €405,085 in FY23, a drop of roughly 90%.^[13]

One of Bergfürst’s projects, involving ELA 105 GmbH, filed for insolvency on July 26, 2023, after failing to complete construction, leaving it uninhabitable and at risk of foreclosure. Despite Bergfürst’s earlier encouragement for investors to extend terms and provide additional funds to ensure completion, this has not occurred. As a result, investors are likely to face total losses, and the value of any guarantees remains uncertain. The insolvency is being managed by insolvency administrator Julia Kappel-Gnirs.^[14]

1. Bergfürst: “Wer kann in die Anlagemöglichkeiten auf BERGFÜRST investieren?”
2. P2PMarketData: “Bergfürst Statistics”
3. Bergfürst: “Kundinnen und Kunden”
4. Bergfürst: “Wie funktioniert diese neue Immobilien-Anlageklasse genau?”
5. Bergfürst: “Welche Vorteile bietet Ihnen das besicherte Bankdarlehen auf BERGFÜRST?”
6. Bergfürst: “Zinsfälligkeit”
7. Bergfürst: “Wie funktioniert die Besteuerung auf BERGFÜRST?”
8. Bergfürst: “Zinsen P.A”
9. Bergfürst: “Preis- und Leistungsverzeichnis”
10. Immobilien Manager: “Commerz Real steigt bei Bergfürst ein”
11. CB Insights: “Who are the investors of Bergfurst?”
12. Crunchbase: “BERGFÜRST - Financials”
13. Unternehmensregister: “BERGFÜRST - Rechnungslegung / Finanzberichte Unternehmensregister”
14. Die Bewertung: “Bergfürst Projektangebot: Projektgesellschaft ELA 105 GmbH – Insolvenz”

Founded in 2011, Bergfürst is a German real estate crowdfunding platform based in Berlin that connects investors with property projects primarily in Germany. Bergfürst originates loans, providing real estate companies with access to mezzanine capital for project development or the refinancing of existing properties. The platform is regulated as an investment broker by Germany’s regulatory authority, the Deutsche Industrie- und Handelskammer. Bergfürst recently launched a partnership with C.HAFNER, one of Europe’s leading providers of precious metal products and services, allowing investors to invest in gold with as little as €10 per month.

Registration on the platform is open to both individuals and companies. Individuals must meet a minimum age requirement of 18 years.^[1] While Bergfürst does not explicitly state whether its platform is exclusively for investors in German-speaking countries, it is noteworthy that the website is solely accessible in the German language. Since its launch, Bergfürst has raised more than €192.28 million. However, over the past 12 months, it has not raised any capital.^[2] The platform boasts a community of 119,000 investors.^[3]

• Bergfürst facilitates investments in real estate projects, primarily across Germany, offering interest rates between 6.2% and 10%.
• The platform facilitates loans for real estate companies, providing mezzanine capital for project development and property refinancing.
• Real estate investments begin at €10, with loan terms spanning 3 months to 2 years.
• Bergfürst has recently launched gold investments in collaboration with C.HAFNER, starting at €10 per month.
• Investments incur no subscription fees, but there is a €10 charge for secondary market transactions and a 10% management fee on escrow deposits.

Bergfürst provides real estate companies with standardized access to mezzanine capital, either for new project developments or to refinance existing properties. The platform has recently expanded into alternative assets, offering gold investments in partnership with C.HAFNER.

Bergfürst offers two main investment options:

• Property Projects: Investors can fund real estate loans, mainly in Germany, where companies need mezzanine capital to fill the financing gap left by banks, which generally cover up to 60–70% of project costs. Investments start at €10.
• Gold: A monthly gold savings plan is available, also starting from €10.^[4]

Real estate investment durations range from 3 months to 2 years, with project targets varying from €2 million to €5 million. Bergfürst offers subordinated secured bank loans typically ranked second in priority after first-tier financing. These junior loans are backed by material assets to minimize the risk of total loss.^[5]

Interests are paid annually or at the end of the term, depending on the project, with the principal returned at loan maturity.^[6] Bergfürst provides a secondary market for investors to sell their investments before term completion. The platform does not offer an auto-invest feature for queuing new investments. However, Bergfürst does provide a mobile app available on the Apple Store and Google Play, making it easy to browse for new investment opportunities.

Bergfürst deducts tax on interest payments during the offer phase. In the secondary market, investors may encounter additional capital gains taxes, which can be claimed accordingly on tax returns.^[7]

Among the active campaigns, Bergfürst offers interest rates ranging from 6.2% to 10%.^[8] Since its launch, the platform has paid out a total of €133 million. It’s important to note that the platform has not disclosed advanced statistics such as overdue loan rates or default rates. However, it has reported negative interest rates on some projects, which could signal potential delays or even defaults.

For investors, subscriptions to new investments are free. However, there are €10 fees for purchases and sales on the secondary market. Bergfürst also applies a 10% management fee on escrow account deposits, calculated based on the original investment amount. Additionally, there is a €30 charge if investors contact the platform via email or telephone to process undelivered payments.^[9] However, the platform has not disclosed the fees applied to borrowers. Bergfürst generates revenue via service fees and brokerage fees collected from loan originations and various service fees.

Dr. Guido Sandler is the founder of Bergfürst and currently serves as the platform’s CEO. Before starting Bergfürst, he held leadership roles at Berlinereffektenbank AG and E*Trade Bank AG. Alongside him is Dennis Bemmann, who initially served as the CTO before transitioning to the supervisory board after playing a crucial role in establishing the platform. He also founded the German Young Researchers Network in 2000 and later established studiVZ, Germany’s leading website with 17 million active members, before transitioning to supporting young technology companies as an investor from 2007 onwards.

Dr. Guido Sandler is the largest shareholder of Bergfürst AG. The second-largest shareholder is Commerz Real AG, a subsidiary of Commerzbank, with approximately a 24.9% stake in the company.^[10] Other notable investors in Bergfürst include Axel Springer, Digital Ventures, and Berliner Volksbank Ventures.^[11]

The platform raised €7.8 million in September 2013, via investment from Berliner Volksbank Ventures.^[12]

Recently, Bergfürst has experienced a rise in debt, with liabilities growing from €74,024 in FY22 to over €184,746 in FY23, reflecting an increase of approximately 149%. Deferred income has also seen a decline, falling from €31,045 in FY22 to €21,282 in FY23, a drop of around 31%. Cash reserves have been significantly reduced, decreasing from €663,558 in FY22 to €216,138 in FY23, a decline of approximately 67%. Additionally, receivables have seen a sharp decrease, falling from €3.98 million in FY22 to just €405,085 in FY23, a drop of roughly 90%.^[13]

One of Bergfürst’s projects, involving ELA 105 GmbH, filed for insolvency on July 26, 2023, after failing to complete construction, leaving it uninhabitable and at risk of foreclosure. Despite Bergfürst’s earlier encouragement for investors to extend terms and provide additional funds to ensure completion, this has not occurred. As a result, investors are likely to face total losses, and the value of any guarantees remains uncertain. The insolvency is being managed by insolvency administrator Julia Kappel-Gnirs.^[14]

1. Bergfürst: “Wer kann in die Anlagemöglichkeiten auf BERGFÜRST investieren?”
2. P2PMarketData: “Bergfürst Statistics”
3. Bergfürst: “Kundinnen und Kunden”
4. Bergfürst: “Wie funktioniert diese neue Immobilien-Anlageklasse genau?”
5. Bergfürst: “Welche Vorteile bietet Ihnen das besicherte Bankdarlehen auf BERGFÜRST?”
6. Bergfürst: “Zinsfälligkeit”
7. Bergfürst: “Wie funktioniert die Besteuerung auf BERGFÜRST?”
8. Bergfürst: “Zinsen P.A”
9. Bergfürst: “Preis- und Leistungsverzeichnis”
10. Immobilien Manager: “Commerz Real steigt bei Bergfürst ein”
11. CB Insights: “Who are the investors of Bergfurst?”
12. Crunchbase: “BERGFÜRST - Financials”
13. Unternehmensregister: “BERGFÜRST - Rechnungslegung / Finanzberichte Unternehmensregister”
14. Die Bewertung: “Bergfürst Projektangebot: Projektgesellschaft ELA 105 GmbH – Insolvenz”

Founded in 2011, Bergfürst is a German real estate crowdfunding platform based in Berlin that connects investors with property projects primarily in Germany. Bergfürst originates loans, providing real estate companies with access to mezzanine capital for project development or the refinancing of existing properties. The platform is regulated as an investment broker by Germany’s regulatory authority, the Deutsche Industrie- und Handelskammer. Bergfürst recently launched a partnership with C.HAFNER, one of Europe’s leading providers of precious metal products and services, allowing investors to invest in gold with as little as €10 per month.

Registration on the platform is open to both individuals and companies. Individuals must meet a minimum age requirement of 18 years.^[1] While Bergfürst does not explicitly state whether its platform is exclusively for investors in German-speaking countries, it is noteworthy that the website is solely accessible in the German language. Since its launch, Bergfürst has raised more than €192.28 million. However, over the past 12 months, it has not raised any capital.^[2] The platform boasts a community of 119,000 investors.^[3]

• Bergfürst facilitates investments in real estate projects, primarily across Germany, offering interest rates between 6.2% and 10%.
• The platform facilitates loans for real estate companies, providing mezzanine capital for project development and property refinancing.
• Real estate investments begin at €10, with loan terms spanning 3 months to 2 years.
• Bergfürst has recently launched gold investments in collaboration with C.HAFNER, starting at €10 per month.
• Investments incur no subscription fees, but there is a €10 charge for secondary market transactions and a 10% management fee on escrow deposits.

Bergfürst provides real estate companies with standardized access to mezzanine capital, either for new project developments or to refinance existing properties. The platform has recently expanded into alternative assets, offering gold investments in partnership with C.HAFNER.

Bergfürst offers two main investment options:

• Property Projects: Investors can fund real estate loans, mainly in Germany, where companies need mezzanine capital to fill the financing gap left by banks, which generally cover up to 60–70% of project costs. Investments start at €10.
• Gold: A monthly gold savings plan is available, also starting from €10.^[4]

Real estate investment durations range from 3 months to 2 years, with project targets varying from €2 million to €5 million. Bergfürst offers subordinated secured bank loans typically ranked second in priority after first-tier financing. These junior loans are backed by material assets to minimize the risk of total loss.^[5]

Interests are paid annually or at the end of the term, depending on the project, with the principal returned at loan maturity.^[6] Bergfürst provides a secondary market for investors to sell their investments before term completion. The platform does not offer an auto-invest feature for queuing new investments. However, Bergfürst does provide a mobile app available on the Apple Store and Google Play, making it easy to browse for new investment opportunities.

Bergfürst deducts tax on interest payments during the offer phase. In the secondary market, investors may encounter additional capital gains taxes, which can be claimed accordingly on tax returns.^[7]

Among the active campaigns, Bergfürst offers interest rates ranging from 6.2% to 10%.^[8] Since its launch, the platform has paid out a total of €133 million. It’s important to note that the platform has not disclosed advanced statistics such as overdue loan rates or default rates. However, it has reported negative interest rates on some projects, which could signal potential delays or even defaults.

For investors, subscriptions to new investments are free. However, there are €10 fees for purchases and sales on the secondary market. Bergfürst also applies a 10% management fee on escrow account deposits, calculated based on the original investment amount. Additionally, there is a €30 charge if investors contact the platform via email or telephone to process undelivered payments.^[9] However, the platform has not disclosed the fees applied to borrowers. Bergfürst generates revenue via service fees and brokerage fees collected from loan originations and various service fees.

Dr. Guido Sandler is the founder of Bergfürst and currently serves as the platform’s CEO. Before starting Bergfürst, he held leadership roles at Berlinereffektenbank AG and E*Trade Bank AG. Alongside him is Dennis Bemmann, who initially served as the CTO before transitioning to the supervisory board after playing a crucial role in establishing the platform. He also founded the German Young Researchers Network in 2000 and later established studiVZ, Germany’s leading website with 17 million active members, before transitioning to supporting young technology companies as an investor from 2007 onwards.

Dr. Guido Sandler is the largest shareholder of Bergfürst AG. The second-largest shareholder is Commerz Real AG, a subsidiary of Commerzbank, with approximately a 24.9% stake in the company.^[10] Other notable investors in Bergfürst include Axel Springer, Digital Ventures, and Berliner Volksbank Ventures.^[11]

The platform raised €7.8 million in September 2013, via investment from Berliner Volksbank Ventures.^[12]

Recently, Bergfürst has experienced a rise in debt, with liabilities growing from €74,024 in FY22 to over €184,746 in FY23, reflecting an increase of approximately 149%. Deferred income has also seen a decline, falling from €31,045 in FY22 to €21,282 in FY23, a drop of around 31%. Cash reserves have been significantly reduced, decreasing from €663,558 in FY22 to €216,138 in FY23, a decline of approximately 67%. Additionally, receivables have seen a sharp decrease, falling from €3.98 million in FY22 to just €405,085 in FY23, a drop of roughly 90%.^[13]

One of Bergfürst’s projects, involving ELA 105 GmbH, filed for insolvency on July 26, 2023, after failing to complete construction, leaving it uninhabitable and at risk of foreclosure. Despite Bergfürst’s earlier encouragement for investors to extend terms and provide additional funds to ensure completion, this has not occurred. As a result, investors are likely to face total losses, and the value of any guarantees remains uncertain. The insolvency is being managed by insolvency administrator Julia Kappel-Gnirs.^[14]

1. Bergfürst: “Wer kann in die Anlagemöglichkeiten auf BERGFÜRST investieren?”
2. P2PMarketData: “Bergfürst Statistics”
3. Bergfürst: “Kundinnen und Kunden”
4. Bergfürst: “Wie funktioniert diese neue Immobilien-Anlageklasse genau?”
5. Bergfürst: “Welche Vorteile bietet Ihnen das besicherte Bankdarlehen auf BERGFÜRST?”
6. Bergfürst: “Zinsfälligkeit”
7. Bergfürst: “Wie funktioniert die Besteuerung auf BERGFÜRST?”
8. Bergfürst: “Zinsen P.A”
9. Bergfürst: “Preis- und Leistungsverzeichnis”
10. Immobilien Manager: “Commerz Real steigt bei Bergfürst ein”
11. CB Insights: “Who are the investors of Bergfurst?”
12. Crunchbase: “BERGFÜRST - Financials”
13. Unternehmensregister: “BERGFÜRST - Rechnungslegung / Finanzberichte Unternehmensregister”
14. Die Bewertung: “Bergfürst Projektangebot: Projektgesellschaft ELA 105 GmbH – Insolvenz”

Founded in 2011, Bergfürst is a German real estate crowdfunding platform based in Berlin that connects investors with property projects primarily in Germany. Bergfürst originates loans, providing real estate companies with access to mezzanine capital for project development or the refinancing of existing properties. The platform is regulated as an investment broker by Germany’s regulatory authority, the Deutsche Industrie- und Handelskammer. Bergfürst recently launched a partnership with C.HAFNER, one of Europe’s leading providers of precious metal products and services, allowing investors to invest in gold with as little as €10 per month.

Registration on the platform is open to both individuals and companies. Individuals must meet a minimum age requirement of 18 years.^[1] While Bergfürst does not explicitly state whether its platform is exclusively for investors in German-speaking countries, it is noteworthy that the website is solely accessible in the German language. Since its launch, Bergfürst has raised more than €192.28 million. However, over the past 12 months, it has not raised any capital.^[2] The platform boasts a community of 119,000 investors.^[3]

• Bergfürst facilitates investments in real estate projects, primarily across Germany, offering interest rates between 6.2% and 10%.
• The platform facilitates loans for real estate companies, providing mezzanine capital for project development and property refinancing.
• Real estate investments begin at €10, with loan terms spanning 3 months to 2 years.
• Bergfürst has recently launched gold investments in collaboration with C.HAFNER, starting at €10 per month.
• Investments incur no subscription fees, but there is a €10 charge for secondary market transactions and a 10% management fee on escrow deposits.

Bergfürst provides real estate companies with standardized access to mezzanine capital, either for new project developments or to refinance existing properties. The platform has recently expanded into alternative assets, offering gold investments in partnership with C.HAFNER.

Bergfürst offers two main investment options:

• Property Projects: Investors can fund real estate loans, mainly in Germany, where companies need mezzanine capital to fill the financing gap left by banks, which generally cover up to 60–70% of project costs. Investments start at €10.
• Gold: A monthly gold savings plan is available, also starting from €10.^[4]

Real estate investment durations range from 3 months to 2 years, with project targets varying from €2 million to €5 million. Bergfürst offers subordinated secured bank loans typically ranked second in priority after first-tier financing. These junior loans are backed by material assets to minimize the risk of total loss.^[5]

Interests are paid annually or at the end of the term, depending on the project, with the principal returned at loan maturity.^[6] Bergfürst provides a secondary market for investors to sell their investments before term completion. The platform does not offer an auto-invest feature for queuing new investments. However, Bergfürst does provide a mobile app available on the Apple Store and Google Play, making it easy to browse for new investment opportunities.

Bergfürst deducts tax on interest payments during the offer phase. In the secondary market, investors may encounter additional capital gains taxes, which can be claimed accordingly on tax returns.^[7]

Among the active campaigns, Bergfürst offers interest rates ranging from 6.2% to 10%.^[8] Since its launch, the platform has paid out a total of €133 million. It’s important to note that the platform has not disclosed advanced statistics such as overdue loan rates or default rates. However, it has reported negative interest rates on some projects, which could signal potential delays or even defaults.

For investors, subscriptions to new investments are free. However, there are €10 fees for purchases and sales on the secondary market. Bergfürst also applies a 10% management fee on escrow account deposits, calculated based on the original investment amount. Additionally, there is a €30 charge if investors contact the platform via email or telephone to process undelivered payments.^[9] However, the platform has not disclosed the fees applied to borrowers. Bergfürst generates revenue via service fees and brokerage fees collected from loan originations and various service fees.

Dr. Guido Sandler is the founder of Bergfürst and currently serves as the platform’s CEO. Before starting Bergfürst, he held leadership roles at Berlinereffektenbank AG and E*Trade Bank AG. Alongside him is Dennis Bemmann, who initially served as the CTO before transitioning to the supervisory board after playing a crucial role in establishing the platform. He also founded the German Young Researchers Network in 2000 and later established studiVZ, Germany’s leading website with 17 million active members, before transitioning to supporting young technology companies as an investor from 2007 onwards.

Dr. Guido Sandler is the largest shareholder of Bergfürst AG. The second-largest shareholder is Commerz Real AG, a subsidiary of Commerzbank, with approximately a 24.9% stake in the company.^[10] Other notable investors in Bergfürst include Axel Springer, Digital Ventures, and Berliner Volksbank Ventures.^[11]

The platform raised €7.8 million in September 2013, via investment from Berliner Volksbank Ventures.^[12]

Recently, Bergfürst has experienced a rise in debt, with liabilities growing from €74,024 in FY22 to over €184,746 in FY23, reflecting an increase of approximately 149%. Deferred income has also seen a decline, falling from €31,045 in FY22 to €21,282 in FY23, a drop of around 31%. Cash reserves have been significantly reduced, decreasing from €663,558 in FY22 to €216,138 in FY23, a decline of approximately 67%. Additionally, receivables have seen a sharp decrease, falling from €3.98 million in FY22 to just €405,085 in FY23, a drop of roughly 90%.^[13]

One of Bergfürst’s projects, involving ELA 105 GmbH, filed for insolvency on July 26, 2023, after failing to complete construction, leaving it uninhabitable and at risk of foreclosure. Despite Bergfürst’s earlier encouragement for investors to extend terms and provide additional funds to ensure completion, this has not occurred. As a result, investors are likely to face total losses, and the value of any guarantees remains uncertain. The insolvency is being managed by insolvency administrator Julia Kappel-Gnirs.^[14]

1. Bergfürst: “Wer kann in die Anlagemöglichkeiten auf BERGFÜRST investieren?”
2. P2PMarketData: “Bergfürst Statistics”
3. Bergfürst: “Kundinnen und Kunden”
4. Bergfürst: “Wie funktioniert diese neue Immobilien-Anlageklasse genau?”
5. Bergfürst: “Welche Vorteile bietet Ihnen das besicherte Bankdarlehen auf BERGFÜRST?”
6. Bergfürst: “Zinsfälligkeit”
7. Bergfürst: “Wie funktioniert die Besteuerung auf BERGFÜRST?”
8. Bergfürst: “Zinsen P.A”
9. Bergfürst: “Preis- und Leistungsverzeichnis”
10. Immobilien Manager: “Commerz Real steigt bei Bergfürst ein”
11. CB Insights: “Who are the investors of Bergfurst?”
12. Crunchbase: “BERGFÜRST - Financials”
13. Unternehmensregister: “BERGFÜRST - Rechnungslegung / Finanzberichte Unternehmensregister”
14. Die Bewertung: “Bergfürst Projektangebot: Projektgesellschaft ELA 105 GmbH – Insolvenz”